Gun Violence Awareness Month June 2023

Gun Violence National Awareness Month is recognized each year during the month of June. This month was created to draw attention to the tragic reality of gun violence in the United States.

The History of Gun Violence Awareness Month was established to honor the survivors and victims of gun violence in the United States. The recognition of this month began on June 2, 2015. Since 2015, Gun Violence Awareness Month is committed to supporting the intervention and prevention of all individuals affected by gun violence.

The origin of Gun Violence Awareness Day began on June 2, 2015. This day would have been the birthday of Hadiya Pendleton. At the age of 14, Pendleton performed at President Barrack Obama’s inauguration on January 29, 2013. One week after this performance, Hadiya was shot and killed on a Chicago playground. To keep her memory alive, childhood friends of Hadiya’s began to wear orange as a tribute to her life. They chose the color orange because orange is the color hunters wear in the woods to protect themselves. The first Friday of June each year since 2015 is known as, “Wear Orange Day.”

National Gun Violence Awareness Day is a way to support an end to gun violence and to show solidarity against this tragic reality. Each year, the United States In comparison to other countries has a significantly higher homicide rate that are gun related.

“Statistically between 1968 and 2017, 1.5-million-gun deaths in the U.S. is higher than the total number of soldiers killed in every single U.S. conflict since the Independence War in 1775.” Alarmingly, by 2020, “79 percent of all homicide’s in the U.S. were gun related, resulting in the death of 45,000 Americans as a result of gun violence.”

Each year, the number of gun related deaths in the U.S. continues to rise and is recognized as a public health epidemic. Every day in the United States120 people are killed and 200 people are shot and wounded as a result of gun violence. Tragically, in the U.S. children between the ages of 1 and 19 are more likely to die by gun violence than by any other cause.

On Friday, June 2, 2023, hundreds of cities across the country will host events that raise awareness about this issue, recognize the need for change, and most importantly, remember and honor the victims and families affected by gun violence in our country every day.

Resources:
Sandy Hook Promise: 17 Facts About Gun Violence and School Shootings
Brady United: The Brady Plan
Everytown For Gun Safety